Ancient Remedies in Your Kitchen: The Health Benefits of Garlic, Ginger, and Green Onions

In TCM, green onions, ginger, and garlic are valued for restoring balance and supporting the body’s natural defenses.
Ancient Remedies in Your Kitchen: The Health Benefits of Garlic, Ginger, and Green Onions
Green onions, ginger, and garlic are widely recognized for their potential in cancer prevention. Ostranitsa Stanislav/Shutterstock
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Green onions, ginger, and garlic are more than aromatic seasonings—they also possess medicinal properties. Adding them to your diet can help support cardiovascular health and may even contribute to cancer prevention. However, it is essential to eat them in the right combinations and amounts.

Health Benefits and Uses of Garlic

Garlic is widely regarded as one of the most powerful foods for cancer prevention, thanks to its key compound, allicin. A 2022 review found that allicin can inhibit the growth of various types of tumors, particularly stomach and colorectal cancers.
Beyond its potential anticancer effects, garlic also supports cardiovascular health by slowing vascular aging, lowering blood pressure, and preventing atherosclerosis or the buildup of plaque in the arteries. A dose-response trial found that hypertensive patients who took aged garlic extract capsules for 12 weeks experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of nearly 12 mmHg compared with the control group.
Naiwen Hu
Naiwen Hu
Naiwen Hu is a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician at Shanghai Tong Te Tang in Taipei and a former Stanford Research Institute scientist. Hu has treated more than 140,000 patients, taught at an American university, and hosts a popular YouTube health program with 900,000 subscribers, as well as international wellness roadshows.